An assessment framework for safeguarding public values on mobility platforms

Digital platforms have pervaded a broad sweep of urban life over the last decade and more. Urban mobility platforms have been particularly prevalent, often seeking to disrupt and provide alternatives to the existing organisation of provision. In this paper we argue that there is a need to strengthen understanding of the role of urban (governing and infrastructural) context in platform urbanism. Moving from debates around platform capitalism, where understanding of the role of the urban is relatively ignored, to platform urbanism, where the mutual shaping of platform and urban has been recognised, we argue that the urban can and should be conceived of more strongly as a site of possibility, where platformisation can be strategically shaped in pursuit of public priorities. The implications of this are potentially profound but poorly understood. We respond to this by developing a framework that extends existing thinking in this area via a critical synthesis of platform capitalism and platform urbanism literatures, illustrated by empirical research in two English metropolitan public transport contexts. There are signs of place-based interests seeking to corral platform technologies and existing systems of provision into new configurations that support public control of platformised systems for the pursuit of public priorities and values. We set out the relevance of the framework for contexts beyond those in which we have conducted research.

Affective platform urbanism: Changing habits of digital on-demand consumption

Platform Urbanism ‘Glitches’ – Minor Theory for Researching Platforms in Latin American Cities

Digital platforms such as Android, Uber or Airbnb have become hotspots of economic interactions between complementors (i.e., producers) and end-users (i.e., consumers). As the number of complementors and offered complements on digital platforms grow, platform providers need to exercise control to align their interests and strategies with those of the complementors. To manage complementors and their complements, platform providers draw on control modes. In this thesis, control mode refers to set of mechanisms employed by platform provider to control (e.g., approve, guide and monitor) complementors and their complements on digital platforms. To advance the emergent research in the field of control modes on digital platforms, this thesis focuses on a control mode that is widespread in practice but has been largely overlooked in IS research so far, namely input control. Input control can be described as the set of mechanisms used by the platform provider to screen and sort out complementors and their complements before entering the digital platform. Within five articles, this thesis addresses the role and importance of input control on digital platforms by investigating the effects of input control in four different platform contexts (i.e., mobile applications, web-browsers, crowdfunding and e-marketplaces). The first article describes the development of an enhanced conceptual definition for input control and a corresponding measurement scale for questionnaire-based survey research that helps us measure input control more accurately and gauge its impact on platform complementors. The developed measurement scale was rigorously validated in the context of mobile application platforms (i.e., Android and iOS) based on the guidelines and recommendations in extant scale development literature. The second article deals with the distinction between complementor-related and complement-related input control mechanisms that address complementors and complements, respectively. Using a combination of quantitative (i.e., survey) and qualitative (i.e., interviews) methods applied in the context of web-browser platforms (i.e., Chrome and Firefox), the results revealed that both mechanisms affect complementors’ overall perception of input control on digital platforms. Moreover, the results showed that complementors’ perceived usefulness of and satisfaction with a digital platform served as an important driving force through which perceived input control affects complementors’ continuance intentions. Drawing on IS control literature and goal attainment theory, the third article addresses the effects of input control and self control on complementors’ intentions to stay on their respective digital platform. Results of an online survey with complementors from two major reward-based crowdfunding platforms (i.e., Kickstarter and Indiegogo) revealed that input control reduces and self control increases complementors’ willingness to stay. Interestingly, these effects can be explained through the comparison of associated usefulness and effort of using the digital platform. The fourth article investigates the impact of input control and clan control in the context of e-marketplace platforms (i.e., Amazon and Etsy). The results revealed opposing effects of input control and clan control on complementors’ beliefs, attitudes and behavioral outcomes. In particular, whereas input control had a negative effect on complementors’ perceived usefulness, satisfaction and continuance intention, clan control exerted a positive effect on the observed variables. The fifth and last article examines the influence of input control on complementors’ performance. Results of a field survey with sellers on Amazon indicated that input control reduces complementors’ intrinsic motivation, resulting in a lower performance on a digital platform. Surprisingly, the findings revealed that input control has no direct effect on complementors’ performance when accounting for intrinsic motivation. Taken together, this thesis showcases the role and importance of input control and provides a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of how complementors perceive and react to input control mechanisms on digital platforms. Furthermore, the findings shed light on the underlying explanatory mechanisms of why the effects of input control on digital platforms unfold. As such, this thesis answers several calls for research in platform governance and control literature, and lays the foundation for future studies on digital platforms. The overarching contributions of this thesis for research consists of (1) investigating the effects of input control on complementors’ behavior and performance outcomes on digital platforms, and (2) exploring input control in various platform contexts with unique circumstances and influences as well as in combination with other control modes. Additionally, this thesis provides crucial insights for platform providers on how and why input control mechanisms affect complementors behavior and performance outcomes. The findings therefore provide valuable impetus for platform providers to maintain platforms’ long-term success und sustainability.

Platform urbanism has emerged in recent years as an area of research into the ways in which digital platforms are increasingly central to the governance, economy, experience, and understanding of the city. In the paper, we argue that platform urbanism is an evolution of the smart city, constituted by novel, digitally-enabled socio-technical assemblages that enable new forms of social, economic and political intermediation. We offer a typological framework for a better conceptualization of platform urbanism and its complex socio-economic relationships. We further outline several directions for future research on platform urbanism, specifically: a.) the need to critically investigate new power geometries of corporate, legal and regulatory alignments; b.) how platform urbanism may be expressed in, and affect, cities in the Global South; c.) how it may need to be critically engaged with in regard to its development in response to emergent events such as the Covid-19 pandemic; and d.) how it may shape visions of the current and future city.

Measuring the performance of Fintech services on mobile apps (FSMA) is considered a major key to sustain, develop, and improve financial services and their processes, depending on users’ standpoints on digital platforms. Public value aims at enhancing the performance of government institutions services. Throughout the current research, authors have suggested a novel way to evaluate the performance and management of FSMA by theorizing a new conceptual framework entitled Public Value of Fintech Services’ Mobile Apps (PV-FSMA). A quantitative approach was chosen to measure several factors influencing the use of FSMA and evaluate the degree of public value of FSMA among Jordanians. The structural equation model was conducted based on the results of the PV-FSMA model hypotheses. The results confirmed that FSMA-intention to use (FSMA-ITU) and its predictors: FSMA-usefulness (FSMA-US), FSMA-awareness (FSMA-AR), FSMA-security (FSMA-SE), FSMA-social influence (FSMA-IS), and FSMA-system quality (FSMA-SQ) except FSMA-ease of use (FSMA-ES) are valuable determinants of PV-FSMA. The article presents theoretical implications regarding financial services and public value theories and practical implications regarding public institution leaders, managers, and information technology specialists in the Fintech domain to improve the quality and performance of FSMA in Jordan.

This paper concerns the design of a two-arm mobile delivery platform for application within nuclear decommissioning tasks. The adoption of the human arm as a model of manoeuvrability, scale and dexterity is the starting point for operation of two seven-function arms within the context of nuclear decommissioning tasks, the selection of hardware and its integration, and the development of suitable control methods. The forward and inverse kinematics for the manipulators are derived and the proposed software architecture identified to control the movements of the arm joints and the performance of selected decommissioning tasks. We discuss the adoption of a BROKK demolition machine as a mobile platform and the integration with its hydraulic system to operate the two seven-function manipulators separately. The paper examines the modelling and development of a real-time control method using Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) and Proportional-Integral-Plus (PIP) control algorithms in the host computer with National Instruments functions and tools to control the manipulators and obtain feedback through wireless communication. Finally we consider the application of a third party device, such as a personal mobile phone, and its interface with LabVIEW software in order to operate the robot arms remotely.

The paper presents design of autonomous mobile platform based on the all terrain 1/8th scale four wheel drive radio control model. In this paper was considered problem of automatic control of mobile platform using information from GPS system, electronic compass and encoder. The mobile platform is equipped in two-stroke glow engine, heavy-duty drive train and wide-track suspension and controller based on ARM7 microcontroller and using MaxStream XBee Pro 2.4GHz radio modem communication module. The base station equipment is also described. Communication protocol between mobile platform and base station is presented. The paper presents also an application of electronic compass to measure azimuth of mobile platform. Problem of speed and distance control is described. Autonomous mobile platform is a machine that can operate in a human-made environment. By control in this case we will understand to be able to avoid collisions with obstacles (other mobile platforms and walls) during drive. Results of real application are also shown. Results of work on autonomous mobile platform that can operate in human environment are presented. The obtained properties of the system have been effected that it can be used for future research and autopilot design project.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using digital learning platforms as communication media in Islamic education with a focus on Generation Z teachers at PB. Soedirman Islamic High School, Jakarta. This generation is known as digital natives who are highly adaptive to information technology. The research method used is a case study with a qualitative approach, involving interviews, participatory observation, and surveys. The results show that Generation Z teachers at PB. Soedirman Islamic High School, Jakarta feel comfortable and helped by the use of digital learning platforms for communication and learning. These platforms enable faster and more efficient communication. However, some challenges were also found, such as limitations in conveying messages clearly and the risk of information overload. Factors affecting the effectiveness of communication through digital platforms were identified, including Teachers' technological competence, platform design, organizational culture, and adequate training and support. This research is consistent with technology acceptance theory which states that perceived ease of use and usefulness have a significant effect on technology acceptance. The results of this study provide practical implications to optimize the use of digital learning platforms through continuous training, intuitive platform design, and digital culture support in the organization. Thus, digital platforms can improve the performance and job satisfaction of Generation Z teachers.

Public and commercial news follow distinct logics. We evaluate this duality in television news coverage on immigration. First, by means of a large-scale content analysis of Flemish television news ( N = 1630), we investigate whether immigration coverage diverges between both broadcasters. Results show that, despite an overall negativity bias and relative homogeneity between the broadcasters, commercial news contains slightly more sensational and tabloid characteristics than public news. The latter promotes a more balanced view of immigration. These differences are stable over time. Second, using cross-sectional and panel data, we assess whether a preference for public versus commercial news is associated with an attitudinal gap in anti-immigrant attitudes. Findings demonstrate that individuals who prefer commercial news are more negative towards immigrants. We suggest that differences in news content may explain this attitudinal gap. In light of the debate around ‘public value’ offered by public service media across Europe, we tentatively conclude that public broadcasters have the potential to foster tolerance and provide balanced information by prioritizing a normative view over a market logic. The linkage between news coverage and the gap in attitudes between commercial and public news viewers warrants closer investigation in the future.

Within the framework of the Digital Railway Terminal Concept, it is expected to create robotic complexes that provide automatic train break-up and wagon uncoupling at a sorting hump. This article deals with the issue of selecting technical and operational characteristics and algorithm for a mobile platform moving part of such a robotic complex. The article describes the developed mathematical model that takes into account various options of the mobile platform movements. Using the developed model, various designs of the robotic complex mobile platform have been compared including those by a number of consecutively formed wagon cuts. The simulation has shown that a greater number of consecutively formed wagon cuts can be achieved by increasing the speed and acceleration of the mobile platform carriage, as well as by using a more complex algorithm for the mobile platform carriage. This requires the use of an additional fixed track sensor designed for measuring the distance between the current carriage ordinates and automated couplers to be uncoupled.

The project designed and implemented an interoperability mobile platform with a system based on Android open source software platform and Arduino open source hardware platform , an Android program on the host terminal receiving environment data from the mobile platform and sending message through 3G channel using XMPP protocol, and an Android program on the remote control terminal which could process the environment data sent from the mobile platform according to the algorithm and send back control commands.With this system, the mobile intelligent terminal can collect environment data of moving objects in any area through the 3G signal and control the behavior of distant moving objects to avoid collision.Meanwhile, the system which has broad application prospect is prototype of self-driving car, robot designed for dangerous mission and Mars exploration rover.

In contrast to the dichotomy of platform urbanism-ruralism populated in recent urban geography, we propose an analytical framework of “platform-urban villagism” to examine the roles and impacts of digital platforms on the ongoing spatial transformations in urban villages in southern China. Our framework offers a nuanced understanding of the entanglements between digital platforms and key actors in unconventional urban areas. Leveraging empirical evidence from garment villages in Guangzhou, we explore the diversities of power relationships between various actors and the corresponding spatial implications. Specifically, our analysis reveals the potential symbiotic and productive relationships between digital platforms and other economic actors, leading to functional upgrading of the labor-intensive apparel industry and fostering non-antagonistic relationships with local governments and residents. By highlighting the transformation of production and non-production spaces within garment villages, our study challenges conventional notions of urban development and consumption-oriented activities associated with platform urbanism.

On-demand digital platforms are shaping processes of urbanisation by transforming governance processes, worker subjectivities and consumption practices. However, claims about such transformations risk ignoring the diverse and often underspecified ways that evaluations about platform urbanism are being made. This paper grapples with our incapacities to know platform urbanism, not as pragmatic barriers that can be overcome, but as limits to be reckoned with. Reflecting on fieldwork encounters with people speaking about on-demand platforms from diverse governance, production and consumption perspectives, the paper foregrounds experiences of unknowability, illegibility and ambivalence in platform urbanism. These concepts invite a rethink of the subjectivities involved in evaluating platform urbanism and they provoke questions about the operation of power. The paper argues that attending to these ‘negatives’ provides an alternative counter-political perspective that apprehends both the instability of politics and our practices of judgement. Ultimately, admitting a more aporetic understanding of platform urbanism is not about hobbling our capacities to intervene as urban theorists, but about questioning what intervention might look like and what might be possible.

The Digital Tourism Mobile Services Platform Based on the Model of B/S